Veneer-drying machine



(NoModel.)

G. SEAVER. VENEER DRYING MACHINE.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.y

GEORGE SEAVER, OF TIGERTON, IVISCONSIN.

VEN EER-DRYl-NG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,147, dated May 20,1890.

Application filed December 24,1888. Serial No. 294,481. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE SEAVER, of Tigerton, in the county of Shawanoand State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful ImprovementsinVeneer-Drying Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements inv machines for pressing togetherthe several layers of veneers which have been coated with glue or otheradhesive substance preparatory to being united and simultaneously dryingsuch veneers by heat radiated from the rollers between which they arebeing pressed. Y

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in whichl Figure l represents a side view of themachine with a part of the inclosure broken away disclosing the ends. ofthe drying-rolls. Fig. 2 represents a top View of the machine, part insection; and Fig. 3 represents a detail showing the device for adjustingthe upper series of dryingrollers.

Like parts are represented by the same reference-letters throughout theseveral Views.

Both the upper series of rollers A and the lower series of rollers B aremade hollow, and they are provided with spirally-coiled steamtubes C CC, which tubes communicate with each other through thesupporting-journals of the several rollers, whereby a current of steammay be caused to iiow from the same steam-pipe through all the rollersof the respective series in its passage from the boiler to the dischargeor outlet, whereby said series of rollers may be heated to ahightemperature with a small volume of steam, as compared with theordinaryheating-rollers in which the heating-tubes are dispensed withand the steam discharged directly into the cylinders, the heat beingradiated from the heatingcoils of the spiral tube against the innersurface of the heating rolls or cylinders. The arrangement of thespirally-coiled heatingtubes C O is such that the water arising from thecondensation of steam therein is caused to iiow forward through saidcoils as they rotate, passing from one cylinder to another from theinlet to the discharged ends of the steam-pipe.

D is the steam-pipe communicating with the upper series ofheating-rolls. Steam enters the firstrollerA at a, passing from thencethrough the coils and out through the journal at b. From thence itpasses ,through the duct c and the journal d into the second cylinder ofthe series, when itpasses out through the journal e, and from thencethrough the duct f and the journal g to the third and last roller of theseries, when it passes out through the journal h to the discharge, andin like manner steam is conducted through the steam-pipe E to the lowerseries of heatingrolls B B, each of which is also provided with spiralsteam-heating tubes, which communicate with each other in the samemannerthrough their respective journals. It will be understood that the upperseries of rolls AA rotate from right to left, motion being communicatedto the last roller in the series from the belt F, operating on thepulley G, and from thence motion is communicated to the other rollers inthe series through the chain of gears and idlers H Il, while motion iscommunicated in like manner from the belt I to the last roller in thelower series B B, and from thence through the chain of gears and idlers.I J to the other rollers in the series, the lower series of rollersbeing rotated from left to right, whereby the veneers, which areintroduced through the aperture K of the inclosure, are carried forwardby and between said rotating series of rollers and pass out through theopening L of the inclosing-case M. I have shown but three heating-rollsin each series; but the number of rolls used may be increasedindefinitely, as occasion may require and as may be found necessary tothoroughly dry and compress the material that is passed through betweenthem.

-To provide for the escape of water which may accumulate in theheating-tubes of the rollers, said tubes are so coiled, as stated, tocause the water to flow forward as they rotate from the entrance towardthe discharge. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the steam-pipe in the iirstroller is coiled forward from right to left, whereby the water will beled forward IOO from the entrance through the journal u to the oppositeend of said roller, and from thence through journal l1, passing aroundthrough the duct c into the second spiral tube C of the second roller,which second tube C is coiled in the opposite direction, whereby thewater will be led in the opposite direction through the second roller,when it passes out through the duet fand enters the third spiral tubethrough the journal g; the third spiral tube being coiled in theopposite direction to that of the second, whereby the water is led on,as before, toward the discharged end of the steam-pipe. Thus all thespiral tubes in each alternate roller of the series are reverselycoiled, whereby the rotation of the cylinders causes the water to passthrough the respective coils from the entrance toward the discharge.

le have thus farillustratedand described the arrangement of the spiralcoils in the upper series, the arrangement of the coils of the lowerseries being the same, whereby they are in like manner adapted as theyrotate to discharge the accumulations of water arising fromcondensation.

N is a heating-coil of steam-pipe, which extends across the upper end ofthe inclosure M, whereby the temperature maybe raised, as maybercquired, for drying the material operated upon. The upper series ofrollers A A are supported in movable journal-bearings 0, which permitsaid rollers to move a slight distance upward and downward, as may berequired, to contorni to any slight variation in thickness of thematerial which is heilig operated upon. The journal-bearings O areretained in place at their respective ends by the side frames I), andthey are suspended at the desired point of adjustment by the hand-screwsR, which respectively operate in the movable nuts S. The lower ends ofthe hand-scrcwsR are each provided with a retaining-knobA, which engagebeneath asupporting-plate l within the upper end of the journal-beari ngs. The screws 1t are each provided with spring-supporting collar C. Aspiral spring D is interposed between the collar C and the cross-piece Eof the trame l). Thus it is obvious that the journal-bearings O may beraised by turning said hand-screws R toward the right or lowered byturningthem in the opposite direction, while said journalbearings arefree to rise and fall to coliform to the varying thicknesses of thematerial between them, carrying with them the supporting-screws R andnuts S. The objectl of the spring D is to force said rollers downwardwith the required pressure upon thc material; but said springs D areadapted to yield suliiciently to conform to the slight variations inthethickness of the material which is being passed between the rollers. The

nuts S are provided with angular bearings in the supporting-frame, whichprevent them from turning as said hand-screws are turned, while theypermit of the free upward and downward movement of said nuts to conformto the movement of the screws and journalbearings connected therewith.

l1V F are water-controlling cocks, through which water may, ifdesired,be withdrawn from the heating-coils.

To provide for withdrawing the moisture of steam which may arise fromdrying the veneers, an exhaust-fan G is providethwhich communicatesthrough the inclosing-ease M with the exterior.

ll is a drive-belt, by which motion is communicated to the exhaust-fanfrom the motive power, whereby the drying of the veneers is greatlyfacilitated.

llaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a veneer-drying machine, the combination ol two series of hollowcylinders or rollers A and B, a corresponding series of coiledheating-tubes C, located within the hollow cylinders, one tube in eachcylinder and each heating-tube in the respective series being reverselycoiled to those adjoining it and all communicating with each other, andthe steam-supply through the journals of the respectiveinclosing-rollers, and drivin g-gears com municating between the severalrollers of each series and between said series and the motivepower,substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

2. In a veneer-drying machine, the rolleradjusting device consisting ofthe adjustable supporting hand-screws R, provided withsupporting-knobsA,operatingin sockets formed therefor in thethereoii-supported journalbearings O, spring-supporting collars C,vcrtically-movable rectangular nuts S, located in rectangularretaining-recesses formed thereforin their respective supporting-frames,movable joilrnal-bearings O, supporting guideframes P, and spiralsprings 1)', said springs D being adapted to yield to the movement ofsaid journal-l )eariugs, and said screws and nuts to move together asthey risc and fall with the yielding movement of said springs while therelative positions of the upper and lower series of drying-rollers arepermanently adjusted to each other by turning saidhandscrews in theirsupporting-nuts, substantially as and for the purpose speeitied.

In testimony whereofl aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE BEAVER. lVitnesses:

JOSEPH IIIMuEL, WILLIAM Sco'rr.

IOC

